Machine for reducing and treating fibrous papermaking materials



April 6, 1954 A. J. HAUG 2,674,162

MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 8 Shee'ts-Sheet l A. J. HAUG April 6, 1954 MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed D80. 18, 1950 8 Sheets-sheet 2 April 6, 1954 A. J. HAUG 1 2,674,162

MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 a Sheets-Sheet 5 A. J. HAUG April 6, 1954 MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. J. HAUG April 6, 1954 MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS 8 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l8 1950 April 6, 1954 A. J. HAUG 2,674,162

I MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A v Q v 6 a 0 000 a 1: I 5 $3 s A. J. HAUG April 6, 1954 MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 April 6, 1954 HAUG I 2,674,162

MACHINE FOR REDUCING AND TREATING FIBROUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 18, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FORv REDUCING AND, TREATING FIBRlOUS PAPERMAKING MATERIALS Anton J; Haug, Nashua, N'.. H.

Application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,341

23 Claims.

This invention relates to. improved, methods and apparatus for mechanically working or. treat.- ing fibrous materials, and particularly fibrous materials such as, are commonly employed to. produce a pulp stock in the paper making, art. It; is intended that the expression mechanically working, as employed throughout. the. specifi cation, may relate to and include broadly various operations. dealing. with. specific, treatment. of fibrous materials such. as, for example, reducing, beating,pulping, hydrating, fibrillating, and the like,- as wellas to certain combinations. of these operations.

It. is anobject of the, invention, therefore, to improve methods and apparatus for. mechanically working fibrous: paper making. materials and to devise novel pulping means for obtaining a. more desirable control of the processing and treating of fibrous paper making materials and especially to deal with difficulties now encountered in treating relatively coarse rejectv materials, such as kraf-t knots and sulphite knots, 'as well as other stringy, fibrous bodies as, for example, sliver screens waste and. the; like. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of selectively developing specific fiber properties without unduly modifying dimensional characteristics or other physical aspects of the, fibers. which should be retained. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and; apparatus for treating fibrous materials whereby a plurality of conventionalv treating; operations, may be combined and carried out in a single machine. Still another object. of. the invention is to provide a machine for mechanically working fibrous. materials, which machine. is of simple and efiicient construction and which is characterized, by a high degree of flexibility in operation, as well as a widev range of properties. in the pulp stock which may be processed therein.

These and other objects and novel'features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for pur-. poses of illustration and shown inthe. accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating one novel form of apparatus employed in carrying out the method of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, cross-sectional view further illustrating thevarious working parts of the machine shown in Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view, in perspective, illustrating the path of travel; of

2. a body of fibrous material as it is worked in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1; and- 2;

Fig. 4' is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6. is a detailed fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line li5 of Fig. 5', illustrating the conveyor member of the invention inoperative relation to a cylindrical casing for receiving and moving fibrous material;

Figs. '7; 7a and 7b are cross-sectional views further illustrating a cylindrical casing, roller and" conveyor occurring in several difierentrelative positions with respect to one another;

Figs. 8 and 9' are views similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating roller members occurring in spaced relation to the respective cylindrical casings;

Fig. 10 is a central, vertical cross-section of another form of apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a cross-section taken onthe line ll-II. of Fig. 10';

Fig. 12 is a view in end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. '13 is a view in side elevation illustrating still another form of the machine ofthe invention;

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the machine shown in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig-16 is an end elevational view illustrating compression mechanism; and

Fig. 17 is a plan view.

In accordance with the invention I have discovered an improved method of mechanically working fibrous materials. In this method an essential step is. to rapidly move a mass of fibrous bodies, such as chips, knots, and the like, along a circular path of movement so that the material is. spread out in the form. of a relatively thin circular stream or layer held against a suitable supporting medium by means of centrifugal forces. When thus. whirled about at relatively high speeds the fibrous material develops strong inertial forces which can be utilized advantageously.

I find that I may make use of these inertial forces by a further step of introducing a series of deflecting vane into the path of movement of the circular stream of material and causing the vanes to rotate in a properly controlled manner at varying and different speeds from that of the stream, with the result that. the. material as it thrown. against the vanes becomes periodically deflected in directions axially of the stream and along distances which are directly proportionate to the speed of rotation of the vanes to thus furnish a unique and highly desirable control of fiber movement.

I have also found that I may, in conjunction with the axial deflecting step, advantageously combine a further step of applying rolling pressure in a variable manner and in a definite sequential relation with respect to the axial de fleeting step. The application of the rolling pressure may be made to cooperate with the timed feeding function inherent in the axial defleeting step to not only control the movement of the fibrous material in the stream but to very materially modify and benefit the physical properties and characteristics of the fibers over a wide range of such properties and thus produce a unique pulping action.

In carrying out the step of applying rolling pressure in coordination with the axial deflection of the fibrous material, I employ, in combination with one another, a revolving casing; a conveyor disposed in a novel manner in the casing; and

a roller member working against the inner peripheral surface of the casing. In this combination I further find that the arrangement of the roller relative to the cylindrical casing, and the manner in which the roller is operated and ap plied, may take several distinct forms, in each of which it is possible to develop a different mechanical working and pulping action and from which there may be obtained separately identifiable pulp stocks.

Thus, in the structure shown in the drawings,

Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, illustrate one desirable form of apparatus of the invention which, although not limited thereto, is especially suitable for crushing and pulping reject material which includes coarse knots, and the like. As shown in these figures, and especially in Fig. 2, a revolving casing W is provided for receiving fibrous materials, such as chips, knots, or similar substances. This casing is preferably of a cylindrical form, although it may take a conical form, or other desired shapes, and may have an interrupted inner surface, as suggested by the spiral groove Illa.

One end of the cylindrical casing it is fitted into a tapered ring 12, the extreme end of which is smaller in bore than the inside diameter of the cylindrical casing H3" The opposite end of the cylindrical casing is received in a retaining ring M which is, in turn, surrounded by an outlet housing !6 resting upon a machine base 18.

The ring 12 has an outer cylindrical section mounted for rolling contact with adjustable elevator rolls 20 and 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and each of these elevator rolls 2B and 22 is rotatably supported in respective bearing blocks 24 and 26 which can be moved on the base in directions transversely toward and away from one another by means of a double acting screw 28 to thus raise and lower the cylindrical casing l into various desired heights. Guide rolls 2'7 and 29 supported in brackets 3i tend to maintain the cylindrical casing in place. The ring I2 is formed with an annular flange 39 extending radially outward from the cylindrical section of this member to provide a retaining edge which overlaps ends of the elevator rolls 2!) and 22, as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent axial displacement of the cylindrical casing in a direction from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 2.

The second retaining ring 14 is similarly located in rolling contact with another pair of elevator rolls 20' and 22' rotatably supported in a second pair of bearing blocks corresponding to those already described and located at the right-hand side of the base i8, as shown in Fig. 2. Likewise the ring M is provided with an annular flange 32 which functions to prevent displacement of the cylindrical casing ID in a direction from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 2. A scraper blade 34 is carried by the retaining ring M, as suggested in Fig. 2, and this member, during rotation of the ring, clears the area enclosed in the housing H5 to facilitate movement of fibrous material passing out of the cylindrical casing through a chute 36 on to a transversely disposed delivery screw 38.

Fibrous material is normally introduced into the casing through an inlet port M! where the material is picked up by a feed conveyor 42 and led into the tapered end of the ring member 12. A pair of helical plates 44 continually scrape the fibrous material from the inner surfaces of the tapered ring l2 so that the feed member 42 may advance the material into the cylindrical casing member.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cylindrical casing I0 is provided with a multiple pulley member 44 centrally disposed around the casing and arranged to be driven by a series of V-belts leading from a second multiple pulley 46 on a driving shaft 48. By means of this arrangement the cylindrical casing may be revolved about its longitudinal axis on the several elevator rolls and is free to move in a vertical direction. A pair of weight rings 50 and 52 are fitted to the outer periphery of the casing 10 at either side of the multiple pulley A l to increase the weight of the cylindrical casing as it bears against the elevator rolls. These weight rings, in addition to increasing the mass, may also be of hollow construction and contain liquid materials useful in connection with the paper working operations of the device.

Cooperating with the cylindrical casing 10 to provide a crushing or squeezing action is a roller member 54 which extends longitudinally through the casing member and normally has its outer peripheral surface in rolling contact with the upper section of the inner peripheral surface of the casing, as is better shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Provided at the ends of the roller 54 are tapered extremities 56 and 58 which are received in respective bearings in upright frame members 60 and 62.

A gear 55 drives roller 54 through the tapered extremity 62, the gear being, in turn, driven by variable speed rolls 5'! and 59, the latter of which is carried to a main drive pulley 6i. Gear 63 meshes with gear 55 and is fast on an extension 65 of the shaft for feed conveyor 42, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that as the roller member 54 is mounted for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis, while the cylindrical casing I0 is yieldably supported on its respective elevator rolls, there is an opportunity for knots and other coarse material which is being whirled about inside of the casing, to enter the nip point between the roller 54 and the casing, thus forcing the latter member upwardly and away from the roller a slight distance. In this latter position it will be further evident that the cylindrical casing momentarily applies a relatively large crushing force against material passing through 5, the nip point. The surface of roller 54 may also be interrupted, as shown in Fig. 2.

Arranged in the path of movement of fibrous material which is being whirled about inside of the casing, as has been diagrammatically suggested in Figs. 1 and 5, is a moving conveyor member 6 having vanes or flights arranged to intercept the whirling fibrous material and which may, for example, comprise a screw rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the casing. The conveyor 64 has its opposite ends rotatably supported in bearings 86 and 68 in the frame members 69 and 52, as shown in Fig. 2. The screw member may be driven at varying speeds as, for example, by means of a variable speed pulley Ill fixed thereto and driven by another pulley H on extension 65. In practice the conveyor 64 is operated in a speed range lying well below the speed at which the casing is customarily driven.

In a preferred location of the conveyor member its flights or helical vanes are positioned in very close proximity to the inner left-hand'surface of the cylindrical casing Ill, as viewed in Fig. 5. The conveyor is further located in a manner such that the longitudinal axis of the conveyor lies approximately in a horizontal. plane passing through the axis of rotation of the cylindrical casing Ml (Figs. 1 and t will be observed that such an arrangement permits the casing to move upwardly a short distance without interfering with or damaging the flights on the conveyor screw and notwithstanding the fact that the latter member is rotating about a fixed axis.

In carrying out the method of the invention with the apparatus described, the significance of the conveyor roller and easing combination is best understood and appreciated from a realization of the fact that by moving vanes or helical flights against the flow of the circular stream of material and in a manner such that the edges of the helical vanes move very close to the easing periphery at one point, several distinct and unusual results ar achieved.

For instance, I find that the force generated by the whirling mass of fibrous material will cause the material to depart abruptly out of its normal circular path of movement and to be deflected in a direction which depends partly upon the direction along which the flights advance about the axis of the conveyor and partly upon the direction of rotation of the conveyor.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 1-6 exemplifies one desirable combination in which helical flights are moved against the flow of the fibrous material. As noted therein, the conveyor 64 is formed with a left-hand flight which is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. The casing i9 is being rotated in an opposite or counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, and since the conveyor is in close proximity to the inner left-hand side of the casing, the whirling fibrous material in following its circular path is first squeezed between the roller 54 and then travels downwardly between the flights of the conveyor and adjacent surfaces of the casing to again go through a similar cycle.

This specific arrangement may, I find, be advantageously made use of to carry out an important step in the method of the invention, in which the fibrous material is periodically deflected toward the casing outlet by the inclined curved helical surfaces 641) which, as viewed in Fig. 6, extend from right to left in an inwardly inclined manner. In Fig. 3 the stream of material has been indicated diagrammatically and illustrates a treatment zone in which the material is following a circular path and a deflection zone in which the path of flow is abruptly deviated at points P to produce the axial travel. I further find that the material may be deflected in axial directions along distances which are directly proportional to the speed at which the conveyor is rotated against the flow of material and the method of the invention includes the step of suitably varying the speed of the conveyor 64 in accordance with the stock characteristics desired.

It will be apparent, therefore, that I am enabled to very accurately control the travel of the fibrous stock along the casing and, therefore, the frequency of the crushing or squeezing cycle by suitably varying the speed of the conveyor relatively to any given casing speed and, as a result, highly unusual and desirable pulp characteristics may be realized.

This controlled feeding action is further accompanied byone other important function which is carried out by the conveyor screw in cooperation with the casing and roller 54. As noted above the vanes or helical flights are arranged to move very close to the casing periphery and the effect of these blades is to furrow into the oncoming mass of fibrous material and to turn over the material upon itself against the action of the centrifugal forces present and thus to present a different arrangement of the fibers relative to one another for each such squeezing or crushing action of the roller 54, and the effect of the roller is thus greatly enhanced and accelerated and the whole crushing and squeezing process is facilitated.

It is pointed out that in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1-6 the relatively coarse knots which are too large to be passed between the conveyor and casing have an opportunity to travel clownwardly over and around the conveyor and on into the bottom of the casing to receive successive crushing treatments by the roller 54 until suflicient reducing has been accomplished to permit the fibrous knot portions to be acted upon by the conveyor 64. At the same time many of the smaller knots are actually passed between the conveyor and the casing and advanced in the manner above described.

I may also carry out the method of the invention in other ways. Thus in another form of apparatus of the invention shown in Fig. '7, the helical flights may be moved against a flow of whirling stock by operating the casing in a manner such that it is rotating in a clockwise direction and providing a roller 82 in rolling contact therewith. At the right-hand side of this assembly, as viewed in Fig. 7, I provide a conveyor screw 84 which is formed with a righthand flight of helical vanes and which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

Here a set of conditions somewhat similar to those present in the apparatus of Figs. 1-6 are in effect and substantially the same advantages already described may be realized. It should be noted that in mounting the conveyor 84 at the right-hand side of the casing, as viewed in Fig. 7, its axis of rotation is located in a horizontal plane passin through the axis of rotation of the casing and thus vertical displacement of the casing can take place throughout a short distance without interference of the casing with the tips or edges of the conveyor flights. It is also pointed out that in both of the above noted arrangements in Figs. 1 to 6, and in Fig. 7, the stock is moved from points above the conveyor downwardly on to the vanes or flights so that the force of gravity aids in the axial displacement of stock.

In certain other forms in which the method of the invention may be carried out, the apparatus may be modified to provide a more limited type of axial displacement of the fibrous material. For example, I may employ a combination such as that indicated in Fig. 7a in which the casing 90 rotates in a clockwise direction, as does the roller 92, but the conveyor 94 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and is formed with righthand flights. These flights or vanes are again moved against or opposed to the flow of stock and some advancement in an axial direction may be realized, particularly with relatively finer fibrous material, although without the aid of gravity efiects.

In this form of apparatus there is little opportunity for relatively coarse knots to be carried upwardly by the conveyor and thus processin of material of this character is slower.

Similarly, Fig. 7b illustrates one other possible arrangement in which the casing 96 is rotating counterclockwise, as is the roller 98, but the conveyor I08 rotates in a clockwise direction and is formed with left-hand flights, as viewed in Fig. 7b.

The importance of these several combinations in which the flights are rotated against the flow of material may be better appreciated from a comparison of the left-hand flight of conveyor 6 in Fig, with a conveyor having an oppositely directed flight, i. e., a right-hand flight, as it Would be viewed in Fig. 5 if substituted for conveyor 64. Experiments have shown that with this latter type of arrangement, assuming other conditions are the same as in Figs. 1 to 6, the chips or other fibrous material are found to be deflected rearwardly. This obviously defeats the purpose of the invention, causes the machine to clog and, hence, is of less practical value, ofifering as it does little aid in regulating forward displacement of stock. It will readily be seen that there are various other arrangements where the vanes are not opposed to the direction of flow and where the purposes of the invention are not served.

In mechanically working fibrous material with any one of the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 to 6, or Fig. 7, or Fig. 7a, or Fig. 7b, wherein the conveyor flights are moved against the flow of material, there may, I find, in accordance with the method of the invention, be introduced still another desirable control which aids in varying the characteristics and quality of pulp stock produced in the machine. This control is effected by varying the operation and location of the crushing or squeezing roller, such as is exemplified by roller 54, 82, 92 or 98 of Figs. 5, 7, 7a and 7b, respectively.

For example, in Fig. 8 I have illustrated the roller 54 in spaced relation to the casing I 0, a position which may be readily arrived at by moving the elevator rolls 29-22 and 2Ii'-22' apart from one another by means of the double acting screw 28. In this case the roller 5G, in addition to a reduced crushing efiect, is found to have an opportunity to exercise a softening and drawing action on the fibers which can be very desirably adjusted and regulated by controlling the speed of rotation of the roller 54 with relation to the speed of rotation of the casing In so that the fibrous material is attenuated and stretched in a desirable manner.

In a similar spaced relation of the roller 54 to casing In, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 9, some different properties may be developed by rotating the roller 55 in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the casing.

It should be understood that in each of the arrangements shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the conveyor fi l continues to play an important role and cooperates with the other elements to determine the extent to which the action of the roller 54 may be carried. In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 there has been illustrated another modification of structure which may be employed in carrying out the method of the invention and particularly dealing with a means of varying the application of rolling pressure by means of a casing and roller combination.

As shown in these figures, a casing I02 in the form of a hollow cylinder is provided as before. One end of the casing is fitted with a tapering ring Ind, the extreme end of which is somewhat smaller in bore than the inside diameter of the cylinder. The other end of the casing is surrounded by an outlet housin I66, the inside of which is swept clean by a revolving scraper I08 which is attached to the cylinder. This cylinder is supported for rotation upon one or more rolls IE6, the journals of which are mounted in bearings I 52 and I It at opposite ends or the machine. These bearings are supported on stands H8 and I I S, in turn mounted on a base I20.

As power is applied to pulley I22, roll III! is rotated and in turning causes casing I82, which rests on it with its full weight, to revolve, crushing materials which come between the working surface of the roll and the casing. While the roll revolves on a fixed axis, the cylinder can yield or move somewhat to accommodate materials, such as coarse knots, which are worked upon. Such materials are subjected to the structural weight of the casing which is suificient to crush certain classes of knots and other materials. For materials extremely hard to crush, or for obtaining very thorough reduction of fibrous material generally, means are provided for increasing the pressure between the casing and the roll.

The pressure means comprises a chain or strap I25 running on a guide ring I25 fastened around the casing I 62. The chain also runs around a wheel I28 located below the casing and mounted on a shaft I39 which is supported in bearing bosses I32 and $34 carried by angular arms I36 and 38 of a fork-shaped lever hi0, Fig. 11. This lever is iulcrumed on a lug I 22 which is fastened to the machine base. Yieldable downward pressure may be exerted on the lever and, consequently, on the casing I02, by a spring I44 and a hand wheel M5, in addition to the pressure resulting from the Weight of the cylinder. I may also employ in applying a resilient force against the lever, various other instrumentalities, such as a pneumatically driven piston applied at the end of the lever Hi0, and other devices.

In order to hold the casing I92 properly centered, guide rolls Hit and I52 are mounted on trunnions ESQ set into bosses M6 and IE8 cast to end stands I I6 and I I 8. These guide rolls are set to within a small clearance of the outside of the cylinder preventing any substantial lateral movement of the cylinder. Another set of guide rolls I693 are placed against the sides of ring I26 to maintain the correct endwise location of the casing I02.

The material to be crushed or treated is fed into the casing I02 in the manner already described with respect to the machine of Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, making use of a feed inlet I64 which is equipped with a spiral feed conveyor I66 driven from the roll shaft by a set of gears I68. The discharged material is thrown into the outlet housing I06 and leaves this structure through an outlet port I10.

In combination with this structure there is provided a conveyor I'I2 which corresponds, in its construction and location with respect to the casing, in all ways to the conveyors already described in connection with the description of Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, 7a and 71).

It is pointed out that in this particular arrangement a simplified driving function is provided since only the roll member H is driven with the casing being revolved by means of this member, the conveyor screw I12 being, of course, separately driven at variable speeds, as has already heen explained.

An important feature of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. to 12, inclusive, is the adjustable spring mechanism for increasing the rolling pressure between the casing and the roller. This enables an operator to deal with specific classes of extremely hard, coarse fibrous bodies and to quickly reduce them to a desired point and thereafter to change the spring tension and allow the machine to function with much less pressure, thereby producing excellent pulp characteristics which may be varied over a considerable range, depending upon the purpose for which they are intended.

In Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 there has been illustrated an apparatus of a modified nature suitable for carrying out another method of applying rolling pressure in conjunction with a revolving casing. In this form of the invention a cylindrical casing I80 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on bearing members I82 and I84, as shown in Fig. 14. A roller member I86, unlike other forms of the invention, is disposed at the bottom of the casing I80, as may be more clearly seen in Fig. 15.

The ends of the roller I86 are supported in vertical bearings I88 and I90, as noted in Fig. 14, which are, in turn, fitted into respective lever members I02 and I94 which are pivoted on a shaft I96. At their opposite ends the levers are formed with forked portions I90 and 200, which extend around respective cross links 202 transversely connected to the lower ends of respective pneumatic cylinders 204 and 205. By means of the above described construction a variable pressure may be exerted on the roller I86, thus increasing or decreasing its pressure against the casing I30. In conjunction with the location of the roller I 85 at the bottom of the casing, it should be understood that the roller member may be operated in spaced relation to the casing in at least one position of adjustment, as has been noted in Fig. 15, for example and, moreover, the roller I86 may be rotated in either direction by means of a variable drive assembly 2I0 and 2I2.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an efiicient and practical method of mechanically working paper pulpstock, as well as various other fluid mixtures of fibers, chemical bodies, and other solids, with water and similar liquids, and I havecreated a number of efiicient and practical devices for carrying out the steps disclosed.

Various changes and modifications may be resorted to in carrying out the method of the invention in addition to those already noted. For example, I may provide a special deflector mechanism for dealing with relatively large knots which are to be crushed. It is sometimes found that the layer of fibrous material which is being fed into a cylinder, such as the cylinder It in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, may vary in thickness, being much thicker at the inlet end of the cylinder as compared with the outer end. Where this effect develops to an appreciable extent, it will readily be seen that there is a continuous inclined surface at the bottom of the cylinder along which large knots have a tendency to roll or move at a faster rate than may be desired. If this takes place the knots do not receive a sufficient number of passes between the cylinder and crushing roll and are not thoroughly broken up. To deal with this specific sort of problem I halve devised the above noted deflector mechanism which includes a shaft 69 mounted between the end frames of the cylinder and on which are located, in spaced-apart relation, a number of vanes or deflector blades D, as is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The deflector blades can be positioned on the shaft to intercept the movement of large knots travelling from the inlet end of the casing to the outlet end and thus retard their travel and provide for their being crushed a greater number of times between the crushing roll and the cylinder.

Similarly, I may provide various other auxiliary elements, such as a scraper blade S, which can be supported on the shaft 69 and which may, if desired, extend upwardly into contact with, or closely adjacent to, the surface of the roll member 54 to remove fibrous material which may tend to collect on the surface of the roll 54.

Still another addition may comprise a water supply tube T located through the cylinder in a position to direct a spray of liquid material against the conveyor 04, as has been suggested in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It is intended, therefore, that the invention may be practiced to include these and other modifications which lie within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for mechanically working fibrous paper making material, the combination of a revolving casing adapted to receive and move said fibrous paper making material in a curved path of movement, a roller located through the revolving casing in a position to engage against the paper making material, said roller being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and rotating conveyor means supported in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of the casing along one side thereof.

2.'A structure as defined in claim 1, in which the conveyor means comprises a screw rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cylinder.

3. In a machine for mechanically working fibrous paper making material, the combination of a revolving cylinder adapted to receive and move said fibrous paper making material in a circular path, a roller located through the cylinder in a position to engage against the paper making material, said roller being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and rotating conveyor means supported in the circular path of movement of the paper making material for periodically deflecting portions of the paper making material in directions axially of the cas- 11 ing along distances which are proportionate to the speed of rotation of the conveyor means.

4. In a machine for mechanically working fibrous paper making material, the combination of a cylinder, inlet and outlet ports for leading fibrous material into and out of the cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder and causing fibrous material to continuously move in a circular stream which is centrifugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, a roller member extending longitudinally through the cylinder and adapted to be supported in rolling contact with the circular stream of fibrous material, and rotating screw conveyor means constructed and arranged to turn in the path of movement of the fibrous material after having been squeezed by the said roller.

5. In a machine for mechanically working fibrous paper making material, the combination with a roller, bearing means supporting said roller for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a revolving cylindrical casing surrounding the roller, inlet and outlet ports for the paper making material, said cylindrical casing being adapted to continuously move a fluid mixture of fibrous material in a circular stream which is centrifugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the casing and squeezed between the cylindrical casing and roller, means providing for relative movement between the roller and the cylinder to permit passage of relatively coarse pieces of paper making material therebetween, and rotating conveyor means arranged in the path of movement of the circular stream for periodically deflecting portions of the fibrous paper making material in directions axially of the casing and toward the outlet port.

6. In a machine for crushing fibrous paper making material, the combination of a roller, bearing means supporting said roller for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a revolving cylindrical casing, inlet and outlet ports for the paper making material communicating therewith, said casing surrounding the roller and adapted to continuously move a fluid mixture of fibrous material in a circular stream which is centrifugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the casing and squeezed between the casing and roller, said cylindrical casing being movable away from and toward the roller to permit passage of relatively coarse pieces of paper making material therebetween, and rotating conveyor means arranged in the path of movement of the circular stream for periodically deflecting portions of the fibrous paper making material in directions axially of the casing and toward the outlet port.

'7. In a machine for cnushing fibrous paper making material, the combination of a roller, bearing means supporting said roller for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a revloving cylindrical casing, inlet and outlet ports for the paper making material communicating with the casing, said casing surrounding the roller and adapted to continuously move a fluid mixture of fibrous material in a circular stream which is centrifugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the casing and squeezed between the casing and roller, said cylindrical casing being movable away from and toward the roller to permit passage of relatively coarse pieces of paper making material therebetween, rotating conveyor means arranged in the path of movement of the circular stream and cooperating with the casing to periodically deflect portions of the fibrous 12 paper making material axially of the casing an along distances which are proportionate to the speed of rotation of the conveyor means.

8. A device as described in claim '7, in which the conveyor means comprises a screw member rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation of the casing, the axis of rotation of the screw lying in a horizontal plane which passes through the axis of rotation of the casing.

9. A device as described in claim '7, in which the conveyor means consists of a screw member located in close proximity to the casing at one side thereof, the axis of rotation of the screw lying in a horizontal plane which passes through the axis of rotation of the casing, thereby to permit slight vertical displacement of the cylindrical casing with respect to the conveyor screw without interference with the latter member.

10. A device as described in claim 7, in which the conveyor comprises a screw member, and means for independently rotating the screw member in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the casing at varying rates of speed mlow the speed of rotation of the casing.

11. In a machine for crushing fibrous paper making material, the combination of a roller, bearing means supporting said roller for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a revolving cylindrical casing, inlet and outlet ports for the paper making material communicating with the casing, said casing surrounding the roller and adapted to continuously move a fluid mixture of fibrous material in a circular stream which is centriiugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the casin and squeezed between the casing and roller, said cylindrical casing being movable away from and toward the roller to permit passage of relatively coarse pieces of paper making material therebetween, a screw conveyor having its axis of rotation extending longitudinally of the casing, said screw conveyor presenting continuous helical surfaces revolving in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the casing and at a relatively slower speed, said surfaces being adapted to deflect groups of fibers passing between the surfaces and the casing so that said groups of fibers are caused to move in an axial direction of the casing along distances which are proportionate to the speed of rotation of the conveyor screw.

12. A machine as described in claim 11, in which the helical surfaces advance in a direction so chosen that they incline toward the said outlet port at points between the casing and the axis of the screw conveyor.

13. In a machine for crushing fibrous paper making material, the combination of a roller, bearing means supporting said roller for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a revolving cylindrical casing, inlet and or let ports com municating with the casing, said casing surrounding the roller and adapted to continuously move a fluid mixture of material in a circular stream which is centrifugally held against the inner peripheral surface of the casing and squeezed between the casing and roller, said cy lindrical casing being movable away from and toward the roller to permit passage of relatively coarse pieces of paper making material therebetween, rotating conveyor means arranged in the path of movement of the circular stream, said conveyor means comprising a screw located in close proximity to one side of the casing, the

axis of rotation of the screw lying in a horizontal plane which passes th ough the axis of rotation of the casing, said screw member presenting continuous helical surfaces revolving in an opposite direction from the direction of rotation of the casing, said helical surfaces generated in a rection so chosen that they incline toward the said outlet port at points between the casing and the axis of the screw conveyor, the inclined oppositely rotating sections of the helical surfaces being adapted to deflect groups of fibers passing between the surfaces and the adjacent casing so that the said groups are caused to move in an axial direction of the casing along distances which are proportionate to the speed of rotation of the conveyor screw.

14. A machine according to claim 7, in which the cylindrical casing rests upon and is rotated by the said roller.

15. A machine according to claim 14, including spring means for increasing the pressure between the roller member and the casing.

16. A machine according to claim 14, including spring" means for adjustably forcing the casing against the roller member, said spring means comprising a pivoted arm, and means for resiliently urging the arm against the casing.

17. A machine according to claim 4, including spring means for increasing the pressure between the cylinder and the roller member, said means comprising a pivoted arm operatively connected to the roller member, and means for resiliently urging the arm in one direction.

18. A machine according to claim 7, in which the casing is supported in spaced-apart relation to the roller. and means for independently driving the casing in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the roller.

19. A machine according to claim 2, in which the casing is supported in spaced relation to the roller, and means for variably rotating the casing in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the roller.

20. A structure as defined in claim 1, in which is included a shaft located through the casing and deflector blade means supported on the shaft at spaced-apart intervals to retard axial movement of knots along the casing.

21. A structure as described in claim 20, including scraper means fixed on the said shaft for the deflector blades, said scraper means extending into close proximity with the said roller.

22. A structure as defined in claim 1, including spray means located in the casing in a position to direct a spray of liquid material against the rotating conveyor means.

23. A structure as defined in claim 5, including mechanism operable to change the treating pressure on the fibrous material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 432,300 Cressman July 15, 1890 720,379 Du Pont Feb. 10, 1903 1,515,082 McMillan Nov. 11, 1924 1,631,172 Weiss June '7, 1927 1,682,511 Hang Aug. 28, 1928 2,133,449 Haug Oct. 18, 1938 2,138,715 Thorensen Nov. 29, 1938 

